on an autumn day after a feast in the remembrance pavilion in yan zhou, i take leave of cabinet secretary du fu and censor fan

i enjoy the clarity and ambience of autumn
and wonder why some claim to have sad thoughts
now the mountains disappear with the setting sun
but the translucent waters still reflect the firmament

with a full jade jug of the wine of lu i accompany you
and bring my horse with the golden bridle to a halt
we dismount and rest under an imposing ancient tree
we loosen our belts and hang them on a lower branch

we sing and make music in the pavilion on the banks of the river
and a wonderful wind sweeps our songs up to the heavens
the clouds return in the evening back over the emerald sea
it is the time of year when the geese disappear in the blue sky

we are to be separated from each other by ten thousand miles
and i cannot help but become emotional about the parting

murphy always wearing his heart on his sleeve

li bai xv-02

farewell to lu song

who says the tai shan mountain is high
it is lesser than the character of lu zhong lian
who says the army of qin was overpowering
did persuasion alone by lu zhong lian defeat them

you stand unique between heaven and earth
you are like white orchids caressed by the wind
you, oh master, are as singular as lu zhong lian
your literary merit continues that of your predecessor

scattered spruce stand tall among the rocks
untouched and indifferent to autumn frosts
i give you this verse to place on the hilt of your sword
that your triumphs will last for a thousand years

murphy tossing encomiums as is his wont

li bai xv-03

i take leave of my older brother, the district magistrate of zhong du xian

you, my older brother rival tao yuan ming as a poet and a drinker
as district judge in zhong du you are known throughout the land
i had the pleasure to entertain you on the eastern tower
now on the southern road we must part like falling leaves

at the corner of the city wall the river glisters in the autumn sun
at sea you will go beyond green islands under evening clouds
i am not afraid of getting so drunk i try to stop the moon in its course
for the vee of flying geese is broken and your leaving saddens my world

murphy relishing each time he visits his brother in texas

li bai xv-04

i dream of a trip to the tian mu mountain. a poem which i left behind on leaving my friends.

this navigator talks of the fabled island of the blessed
but finds it difficult to find it in the blur of mists and waves
the people of yue praise the tian mu mountain
which should now be free of clouds so one can see its peak
this mountain feels kinship with the sky and reaches up to the heavens
its presence surpassing those of the five great mountains, its shadow a red wall
the tian tai mountain is said to be over 18,000 fathoms high
but in comparison to tian mu is ashamed and falls off to the southeast

i went to experience the mysteries of wu and yue
throughout the night i flew in the moonlight of the mirror lake
the moon above threw my shadow on the lake and escorted me to the yan xi river
where i was able to see the places where xie ling yun had stayed
the clear waters showed lively movement, the apes cries shrill in my ears
i wore xie mountain shoes as my body moved up the green mountain
halfway up the cliff i saw the sun rising from the sea
the sky echoed with the baying of the hounds of heaven
between the thousand crags the road wound around a thousand times
surrounded by flowers i leaned against the rock and suddenly all was night
bears roared, dragons sang, their voices sounding through the rocks and springs
i was afraid in this deep forest, the towering peaks held menace
the clouds turned blue black as it began to rain torrents
the waters cascaded from the heavens and then turned to drizzle
yet lightning flashed, thunder cracked as the mountains and hills gave way
the stone gates of the cave of the immortals split with a great noise
the heavens were present with their immense might, but no true cause could be seen
finally as the sun and moon emerged to cast their light on the gold and silver terrace
a rainbow appeared showing the immortals had come on the winds
the ruler of the clouds had brought forth his abundance
tigers played on guitars, phoenixes were carried around in carriages
innumerable immortals gathered around thick as a field of flax
my soul suddenly started and i was filled with the desire to move
i rose in confusion and for a time was overwhelmed with a deep sighing
but then i awoke and saw only my mat and my pillow
the fogs and the clouds in my mind all whisked away

i thought then that the pleasures of this world behave like this dream
that it has been this way since time immemorial like the east flowing waters
i am leaving now and do not know if nor when i shall return
i seek white deer grazing beside sheer rock walls
then to ride them to visit famous mountains
how can i lower my head and bend my back in service
my heart and face then never to become clear

murphy choosing naturalness over posturing every time

li bai xv-05

on taking leave from civil service under cao zhou. i left this poem when i went to jiang nan

once while fishing i caught a white dragon
on the bank of the xi river i released him
afterwards he visited me, i was in possession of the dao
i wanted to leave the world, have him whisk me into the blue heavens

but though my time had come, he ignored me and my intentions
so i wandered into cheerful conversations with the monarch huang di
but my advice was only rarely listened to in his chambers
and i wished to rest and then left the jian zhang palace

for ten years i did not look for smiling glances from the court
but then i looked in the mirror and saw autumn frost in my hair
i decided to lock my sword in a glass box for a time
and went to brew the elixir of life in the zi cui chamber

tied to my side i was wearing the huo luo talisman
at my loins hung a bag with the image of a crouching tiger
an immortal had offered his colorful phoenix for my use
and i had the intention to visit ever more distant regions

yet there are four or five friends who hold me in afftection
thinking of them i hesitated and did not soar away
i went back east to meet the sun in shantung
and there suddenly sang the fragrance of orchids, my friends

i failed twice to reach the palace of the immortals
and among the people i suffered long in great distress
but then i remembered that fan li left gou jian
and qu yuan removed himself from duke huai

erratic was my yearning for the heart of the purple clouds
for when i was wandering i was reminded often of jiang nan
full of sorrow i will take my leave again for another 10,000 miles
and will leave behind only my empty storage trunk

the qin huai river flows past the land of the emperor
the jin ling mountain surrounds dan yang
the sun rising from the sea shines on the towers and upper chambers
reflections of the horses and raiment reflect in the splendor of the current

when i return to jiang nan i will surely come to see you
and will stop in the northern lookout to shed rivers of my tears
the morning sky of yun meng island captures one’s attention
where the glorious grass sprouts from the ruins of gao tang

the daughters of the emperor are near the dong ting lake
green maples cover the area around the rivers xiao and xiang
i think of returning to cao zhou, but the road is long
looking at the ruins of the ancient world my bones are chilled

from the towering mountains i can see a hundred rivers below
and yet my sorrow sinks down ever more deeply
my desire is to go to o mei shan and see the beautiful scenery
and perhaps become an immortal like go you riding a wooden sheep

murphy always, but always, yearning for a mystical union with nature

li bai xv-06

taking leave of my brother yu ti (11th of his clan) and pei (13th of his clan), i leave this poem as the latter will be called to the fighting by the great wall

tai gong fished in the wei river, li si hunted outside the east gate of shang cai
the former angled for ministerial posts in the kingdom of zhou
the latter hunted ministerial posts in the kingdom of qin
and both knew the tenor of the people and kept the peace

why should we speak of the small fish and the nimble hare
which, of course, they fished and hunted for in reality
there are times when the sky opens wide and clouds roll away the hours
so we should not be frustrated like the ram pushing against the unyielding fence

master yu dwells white haired on the plains of da liang
where he allows those with sorrows to approach and speak with him
because i know that yu ti, a second zhu hai, is a brave man
i merely wish he could find a way to bind his heart into a patient place
if the countries of qin and zhao fight like tigers so blood flows in the middle kingdom
then you must help the emperor as the gatekeeper hou ying did for wu ji

master pei faithfully studied the antiquities, his essays scintillate with colors
in his grief he sings the song of the snow so even the trees in the forest are moved
it is like xiang ji studying the art of fencing thinking of his parents before battle
i urge you, oh master pei, to drink a cup of wine before roaming in the snow
you must dance for me the dance of chu and i will sing the song for you

both now seek adventure out in the wastelands of sha mo
you’ll whip your galloping horses and cross over the huang he
in this farewell to those of the jing ko on the banks of the yi river
remember how my feelings of remorse bring a river of my tears

murphy watching others march off to do battle

li bai xv-07

when leaving secretary wang song i give him this response poem

when lu zong lian was encouraging as he led the qin army in retreat
he would have sold his position to anyone offering a thousand gold coins
although tao zhu was the minister of yue, he had from the beginning
found great joy in the simple freedom to wander in the area of the five lakes

i am also another son from nan yang where zhu go liang plowed
and i often sing like him the song of liang fu yin
the splendor of the blue mountains does not outshine my pride
though the bright feels compassion for my becoming prematurely aged

i had always hoped to serve my illustrious rulers, then return home with honors
but sitting here in the west now, having given my only sword to a friend, what do i do
birds love flying into the distance, into the emerald green mountains
fish migrate through the deep blue sea with no thought of why

i want to go hunting with falcons east of the shang tai gate as did li si
i wish to be able to buy baskets like mang meng did near mount song
if you have free time in the future come to see me here
i have made a simple home for myself and my guitar in these mountains

murphy touting his eremite ways to his friends

li bai xv-08

i return to the mountains, leaving behind my friends at court

i love the ancient times and laugh at the vulgarity now in vogue
in my youth i listened to examples of the wise and the good
i hoped to be able to serve my sovereign
and after my work was finished to be able to bow deeply and retire
the sun was shining from the high heavens
and benevolently lit my small personage
respectfully i received an imperial vocation
and rose up suddenly from the high weeds
i was summoned to the sublime purple mists near the ruler
and was taken with joy inside the forbidden city
the emperor honored me with a personal carriage
my fame rose high into the clouds
the imperial carriage is accompanied by high dignitaries
and in the wake of the emperor i go east to the golden city of chang an
the imperial horse i ride is more splendid than the fabled “miracle shine”
dressed in brocade i repair to the palace wen quan in the xin feng district

leaning against a rock i lookout on the snow filled pines
sitting in front of copious wine i play the lute
later i imitate the example of yang xiong
and weave an extended poetic description of the wen quan gong palace
an imperial letter is sent out praising my work
my name spreads to the farthest distance
and after my return to xian yang
i engage in many animated conversations with princes and dukes
then suddenly one morning i leave the gates of bronze horses
and wander again like the restless windblown thistledown
all the many glitterati dispersed with time
and now the jade cup remains empty
only the power of my talent remains with me
yet i can support myself still
and need not be ashamed in society

in my leisure i write the chant of dung wu
now the song is over and my heart remains full
with these verses i take leave of my friends
who watch the old fisherman leave in his small boat

murphy swapping war stories with the old gunny sergeant

li bai xv-09

during the night i say goodbye to zhang, 5th of his clan

i highly treasure my friend, the lord zhang
in parting we get drunk in the great hall

after listening to the songs we dance in the silvery candlelight
with cups in hand our thoughts only of the girls in white silk gauze

playing the flure we delight ourselves in the autumn moonlight
accompanied by the pipa we sing, “the mulbery trees on the way forward”

i planned to sell the sword long yuan hanging by my brocade belt
but i will give it to lord zhang as a gift, and drink a thousand cups of wine

murphy having a roisterous old time of it

li bai xv-10

in wei zhou i take leave of district judge su as he travels north

zhang de fu borders the countries of yan and zhao
their young women rival the beauty of lotus flowers
the qi river there flows an emerald green
as ships and wagons daily hurry on their way

magnificent blue houses stand on either side of the river
from within the many apartments comes loud singing and music
one can expect lavish hospitality when one visits
and i find myself drawn there to meet with my friends

you are like a second su qin, your speech sharp as swords and spears
though you wear no seal as minister to hang from your belt
you ride in a carriage said to be pulled by flying dragons
one hundred ounces of gold was presented to you along with many white stones

yet you have given away everything and shrugged your shoulders
loudly you sing about the return to poverty suffered by lin qiong
and although you have gotten into this situation on your own
who would wish to imitate the example you have set

you have chosen to draw far away from here
and many mountain chains will soon separate us
when will we again hold our empty wines cups together
speaking of politics and what’s driving our innermost being

murphy doomed to an always changing group of friends

li bai xv-11

left behind after the departure of under district judge liu from xi he

in the autumn of life my hair thins more rapidly
whatever i undertake seems to never be achieved
idly i fill my cup with the tasty wine of lu
while i sit in the jolly company of a second liu gong rong

he says i am a second dong fang so, even the planet jupiter
become flesh and blood and returned to live among the people
he says i was an unofficial man who had access to the emperor
so why did i ever decide to leave the palace again

i say you, oh liu, have yet to find satisfaction
and noisily fly around as wild geese do in the skies
people of this world are like small creatures in vinegar jars
how could anyone ever become a second mei fu

although you are in truth now a minor official
your thoughts are aimed at the red wall of seclusion
i am like the water chestnut floating on the waves
equating the crests with the illustrious trappings of office

as once did xie an i travel with two young maidens
who accompany me riding on beautiful horses
beside eastern mountain there is an abundance of green spring wine
i wish to go back there and escape from fleeting fame

murphy preferring to be offstage partying rather than deciding great issues

li bai xv-12

in ying yang i take leave of dan yuan qiu and go to huai yang

master yuan and i have different family names
but we are in fact as close as brothers
from our beginnings we were no friends of civil service
but always yearned for the friendship of hermits

we regretted being bound by the shackles of the world
but were ultimately unable to achieve that freedom of seclusion
even though pines and cypress shiver in the cold
they do not follow the example of peaches and plums

we bounce between official positions and the larger world
as our youthful jade faces become thinner and darker
what we have lost weighs heavy as mountains
what we have gained is lighter than dust

our souls are stained bit by bit as age and decay come over us
so i seek the secret of eternal life which will allow one to live forever
you and i wish to enjoy the golden medicine
for then we can truly host the immortals of zi yang

to accomplish ten thousand things all together is impossible
and life is indeed short, and flies by as the hours of the day
we now must part and i will travel far to the southeast
this separation brings an ocean of grief to my heart

i had hoped that we would not deviate from our original intentions
and expected that we could continue to pursue our goal together
but now that that hope is gone i wish to return home
as a white cloud sweeps over the sky bridge toward he nan fu

murphy close to the secret, but not quite there yet

li bai xv-13

taking leave of my friends in guang ling, i offer them this poem

i remember in my youth parting with friends in zhao and yan
golden bridle adorning my horse, sword hanging from my brocade belt
for a small heart it is nothing to accept failure in an endeavor
but later on i saw this was wrong and took yang xiong as life’s model

the brave man ties himself to dreams of glory
lofty scholars reject the vulgar crowd
for then i caught the attention of the emperor
and my brush took me up to the clouds
but a man riding a tiger dare not dismount
and he who rides a kite falls from the sky
so i went back home to seek truth pure and simple
and in my lonely moral life took the autumn cicada as model

i now brew the elixir of life and consume magical fire and stones
i pick medicinal herbs throughout the mountains and along the rivers
i sleep on the shore of the sea and do not bother with people
i lease a field for my use as once guan ning did in liao dong
and when the enthusiasm comes over me i rise suddenly
take my row boat out into the stream pouring forth my song

here in my drunkenness i take my leave as once did go qiang
and deliberately mishold my whip as did jiang shan
i separate myself from you leaving only this wild song
and now will go my lonely way to fish in the bluest of waters

murphy an old ascetic who loves his occasional binge

li bai xv-14

given to a friend as we part in guang ling

wonderful wine is bought by jade jugs full
i ride along with you for a few miles
we tie our horses to a weeping willow tree
and drink from our cups beside the highway

on the horizon we see the glimmer of green waters
beyond this greener mounrains rise from far islands
after our excitement is gone we take our leave
why is it that we have to get drunk to handle our separation

murphy knowing the wisdom of a drunken irish wake

li bai xv-15

taking leave of my cousins, li yan nian (duke of xu) and li yan ling. stung by the severity of the times

how varied are the sounds of the infinite heavens
the exhalations of gods beating down on this world of ours
lao zi, blessed by the gods, wields the sky bellows
and insures the graceful violet vapors of the winds
seven emperors of the tang dynasty stood with the master
for over a thousand years the house of li has offered its influence
all immortal qualities came from the tree associated with his birth
in the da ya of the shi jing blessings for many offspring are sung
the feudal princes of the dynasty are like phoenixes and dragons
and you, commanding awe, represent the emperor in this border province
you, my wise older cousin are also invested in land
and show your competency to the present emperor
and as a high dignitary you administer the region of xu
you also champion the poetry of cao zhi for all around

yet earlier than now were fantastic days for you
you set in motion a martial stance in the imperial city
you entered the gate for an audience with your cap and sword
you stood in the houseboat of the emperor as he drove over the dragon pond
music poured forth from the palace with the red gate
gold and kingfisher feathers glittered on the red stairs
and once when the ruler asked you to visit
you chose a beautiful maiden as your gift for him
you have been a dignitary for eighteen years now
and have never been transferred or demoted
but then the great minister li lin fu became annoyed
and you have been banished to southern edges of heaven

in your place of exile you have no chance to show your skills
and lately you have been the victim of a clever tissue of slander
you were as si ma sent to hang zhou to the west of zhe giang
sickness brought silence to you at your destination
the stairs of your yamen were overgrown with moss
the only sounds to be heard were the birds chirping in the eaves
though sometimes you would take a small step into your litter
leaving the yamen you are showing your return to the people
as once did xiao yi when he was stationed in the north
you rest and recuperate, comfortable in your isolation
it bothers you to think of your lovely residence in chang an
where once the great splendor of the imperial banner was displayed

you have eight or nine brothers who are gone their separate ways
and can be found scattered throughout the provinces of wu and qin
you, noble man. understood the tenor of the times
yet you should have been more concerned about your own safety
also this unworthy one was denied his place in the unicorn gallery
and like a brother followed you shoulder to shoulder
your worthy brother li yan ling sports the feathers of the phoenix
and surpasses all others in his heavenly beauty
he is a pure flower as if he was an adept of the immortals
as he spreads his fragrance like the drooping flowers of orchids
i dreamed of him reciting a verse of spring vegetation
if he is not the second xia hui lian who else could he be
i strive most diligently with all my heart to find the elixir of life
which would bring a particular well being to me
but the golden ointment is still far off in the hazy distance
and the gem stone’s essence is still yet murky and thin
i am now resting my diseased head on the pillows of the guest quarters
and feel just as liu zheng on the banks of the qing zhang
i have been blessed by the many drugs you have sent to me
as they were received as the beautiful treats they are
how can a man say that the sea is the deepest in the world
i say, rather, that it is shallow compared to the depth of your grace

the singing cicada takes possession of the thoughts of the wanderer
and when he hears the chirping of the cricket he thinks of his return
he suffers from the terrible heat of the burning sun
which threatens to boil the sea and kill the turtles and sea dragons
the hundred rivers are dwindling as they dry up
the ships forced to anchor in the middle of their course
i choose the cool moonlight to start out on my horse
and i slowly leave the outskirts of the city
time and again i look back with weeping eyes
and yet i leave, but slowly, with my heart full of sorrow
i trust you will be preserving your exalted virtue
and can wait until calm has returned to the imperial family
at this moment of separation what can i say
i take the brush and give you this poem

murphy uncharacteristically long winded in his goodbye

li bai xv-16

farewell to chu yong as i leave for yan xian

i ask about the way to go to yan
a man points southeast toward yue zhou
my ship then leaves guang ling
and will drink from the water in far gui ji

the bamboo casts green shadows on the shore
fragrance of lotus comes from the clear waters
i am taking leave of you and going to tian mu mountain
where i will find a stone to sleep on in the autumn chill

murphy determined to rough it whenever he can

li bai xv-17

on leaving my friends behind in nan ging

the vast sea of our people was once in a wild turmoil
the three dragons shu, wu, and wei fought for supremacy
the zhong shan in nan ging reeled amid the waves
it threatened to fall which alarmed the great whale which fled

up in the stars appeared a yellow banner of a new emperor
this determined the place to build, nan ging, the capital of wu
in the six dynasties one ruler followed another
and their marks are still visible in the capital there

in this place the teachings of confucius and meng zi are promoted
and the poets yan yan zhi and xie lin yun became famous there
in this fifth month to the west of jin ling my friends have gathered
they give me a farewell party in the bo xia pavilion

i intend to climb to the summit of mount lu in giang si
but first i wish to wander along the banks of the han river
purple mists of the incense burners will gradually disappear
while the local waterfall falls as if from the heavens

it is like if i could reach out my hand to reach the stars
and my heart is full of sorrow because we will now separate

murphy always looking for another mountain to climb

li bai xv-18

impromptu poem

food in the country is better than in the city
wine tastes better on the banks of the river
waters flow to the east without end
feelings will flow forever after our separation

murphy allowing a bit of hyperbole

2/4/2012 10:34 AM

li bai xv-19

left behind in a wine shop of nan ging as he leaves

the flowers of the willow fill the wine shop with their scent
a young maiden of wu serves and invites a taste from the guests
the young men of nan ging have come to see me off
i that go and you who stay, all most empty their cups

and you my friends must turn to the waters of the yang zi
and know that thoughts of you will cling to my heart until it ceases to flow

murphy always ready with a pithy statement

li bai xv-20

poem left at a farewell party in the bo xia pavilion

beside the post office stand three willow trees
just opposite the gates of the bo xia pavilion
the mists of wu darken their long drooping branches
the han river gnaws at their gnarled old roots

since olden times this is where one takes his leave
but if a man should turn his head back branches hide his friends
if you, my friends, take notice of these words after i have left
please hold the branches to the side so i can turn and see

murphy always up to a trick to make people remember

li bai xv-21

farewell to the priests of the dong lin monastery

here guests of the dong lin monastery are accompanied
the moon rises in the sky, the white monkey complains
laughing, i take from you the second hui yuan of mount lu
which of you will seek to join me on the little tiger river

murphy daring anyone to play pool with him for high stakes

li bai xv-22

exiled to ye, i bid farewell in wu jiang to zong jing, 16th of his clan

what a feat it was for your family at the time of its greatest glory
the three highest positions in the regime belonged to zong chu ko
he cut the feet off the giant tortoise and helped the empress nu wa
then stones melted and the pillars of heaven knit themselves back together

he was very successful after coming into the attention of the emperor
he came to hold three positions in the imperial cabinet of advisors
but then he lost his position and left the capital for a while
during this time he was content to grow melons as once did shao ping

but he soon enough regained his old banner of office
and once again it flew in the wind with the other three thousand
for the imperial favor took all his sorrows away
he like the pine and cypress kept his life force through the winter

i, however, was not the favored son, like wang xi zhi
and did not deserve to wed your sister
as i wandered restlessly through the world without a position
and it was just empty fame that brought me to the capital

and then just as the clouds which obscured me were clearing away
to my infinite sorrow i was banished to ye lang
my foolish wife gave me the sword mo ye to go with the gan jiang
so there were two dragons at my side which i heeded

i am ashamed that you expose yourself to wild waves
and i find myself unable to help you and a thousand miles away
i hear the melancholy morning cry of the apes in the bo di cheng fortress
as i drive carefully by the rocks of the yellow cattle in the yang zi gorge

in the distance i see the gorge of the bright moon
and the further west i go the more i wish to be with you

murphy leaving civilization for the outback

li bai xv-23

left for the hermit gong as we part

master gong stays in a quietness of place
where not even the slightest noise of the world penetrates
his willows are thick with leaves as before the house of tao yuan ming
his bamboo park is as shady as that of go bi qiang in su zhou

i drive into the gorge of the yellow cow
hearing in the distance the monkey’s cries at bo di cheng
i want to give you the herb juan shi torn from the fundament
but why should i be here talking about my broken heart

murphy meditating in the garden

li bai xv-24

as we part i give this poem to secretary jing

do not grieve more over my exile, and take care
i am ashamed that you seek to honor my extinguished ashes
the scudding cloud has no further destination
driven by the wind she descends to the zhang hua balcony

this wide separation has exhausted my tears in sorrow
my heart is broken and remains in its shattered state
for two years i have sung on the banks of the marsh as did qu yuan
when will this gaunt face be allowed to return home

murphy counting the days, but no longer the hours

li bai xv-25

taking leave of meng hau ran at yellow crane tower

my old friend, meng hau ran, my master, leaves
he’s off to the east from here at yellow crane tower
the misty rain evaporates to flowers of spring
he goes down the river to yang jou

his lonely sail dims to distant shadow
vanishing in the edge of blue of sky
i can only see that the long river goes on
flows from here still yet, along to heaven’s edge

murphy sustaining the attack as he plays his etude

li bai xv-26

perceptions while hiking on heng yo mountain as i come to the pavilion of the two spruce trees by han yang. i leave this poem for my cousin, the buddhist priest tan hao

duke zhao of qin fraudulently acquired the royal jewel for his palace
but lin xiang ru restored this treasure of the palace of zhao to han dan
in a similar fashion the gemstone taken from the land of chu
was eventually restored to its proper place in the mountains of chu

your magical brilliance shines over the vast blue seas
your pure light illuminating the ether with its brightness
but now suddenly you have attracted black flies of detractors
and you are restlessly wandering as i have done

you are unusual within the buddhist faith, like a lonely flower
when one discusses religious mysteries you are like a second zhi don
an expanse of ivy surrounds your quiet retreat
a bamboo hedge protects your flower garden

refreshing floral displays adorn your doors and windows
the sky music of the wind sharpens the freshness of the air
i remember well the first time i came there
how the sunshine brightened the flowers on the vines

now it is late in the year and the xin star has set
the mallow leaves sport the yellow of autumn
at the sight of the clear waters i dream of the rivers and wan xiang
but now i am still infinitely far away from chang sha

if you want to reach me try looking among the crags of heng yo
but you might simply give a letter to a wild goose flying to the south

murphy the eternal nomad leaving a clear trail behind

li bai xv-27

two poems given as the chamberlain zhi departs (1 of 2)

a white cloud rose high above da liang
the wind carried it forward to the lands of the south
it then stayed in the wilds of cang wu
and saw ten autumns in the mountains of lo fou

the rebellious giant turtle is restless
mountains and seas both move as mighty waves
i want to confide in the lone phoenix
and fly with him to the limits of the sky

but the phoenix complains of the difficulties on the road
circling in the sky he wants to return to the kun lun mountains
he does not wish for me to accompany him further
and sings plaintively of his shame that we must be apart

the guest grows faint in the distance after his farewell
the bright moon pearl cannot remain in this darkness
i carefully tend my sword which reaches into the heavens
then climb the west tower of the city of lo yang

there in the winds blown here from a thousand miles away
i sigh at length and seek to ease the heart of its accumulated grief
who would not be reminded of the verse of liu kun
“the steel has become so soft it wraps around one’s finger”

murphy old, decrepit, without the strength to offer himself for the defense of his land

li bai xv-28

two poems given as the chamberlain zhi departs (2 of 2)

the cold autumn winds blows from central asia
the fragrant flowers under the canopy now fade
the broken bloom becomes angry at the cold season
the pain of parting is deep and cutting

previously i pushed you toward the high officials at court
and now you have invited me here into your hall
yet you are only a guest in chang sha
while i must go alone into exile in ye lang

i ask you now to share a cup of this wine for my well being
and commiserate with me because the way to exile is so long
both sentiments bring tears to the eyes of those who are parting
yet the heart knows to appreciate how one is remembered by friends

why should we maintain the sensibility of children
who shed copious tears when they see only themselves

murphy smiling through the calamitous twistings of fate

li bai xv-29

departing from the ford at jing men mountain

the ford is a fair distance from jing men mountain
and we have come here on our travel in the kingdom of chu
high mountains rise inexorably from the plain
the large river penetrates into the broad stretching regions

the moon is setting as it sails above the water’s mirror
a fog rises and builds into a phantasmagoria
i remember with feeling the far distant rivers of my youth
and leave you on your ship on your way to your home

murphy rooted in a barren stretch of ground

li bai xv-30

when news came that war minister li guang bi was massing an army in shen si in the southeast, this weak man decided to go into the field as once did zhong jun. i was hoping to show my modest abilities. but halfway there i became sick and turned back, leaving this poem for censor cui in nan ging.

the land of chu is said to be massing all its troops
when they march the kingdoms of yau and zhao will be shaken
the huang he will be drunk dry by their many horses
the red flags of war will be raised high to the sky

the minister of wu holds the war pennant and axe
he commands the cavalry to encircle the town of xu zhou
the army receives his orders as thunder
he is feared for a thousand miles around

the birds fly over in the han gu guan pass
the camp of the army crowds together in the wu guan pass
li marches to behead the giant turtle an lu shan
now finally the large whale will be chopped apart

i grieve that i have not the strategies of li zuo zhu
and i am ashamed when compared to lu zhong lian
yet i sharpen and oil my sword until it glints a bitter cold
hanging next to my spear adorned with shaggy tassels

i wanted to erase the shame of the earlier defeat of gui ji
and add to the honor and glory of the emperor
but halfway to the battles i fell ill and stopped
and could not continue on my expedition to the southeast

zhou ya fu has yet to take notice of me
and already ji meng is prevented from going forward
heaven has robbed me of my brave heart
and i sigh for a long time wanting to leave nan ging

here in nan ging i have met with you the governor
you welcomed me with great joy as did once cai yong wang can
your aides came together to give me a farewell party
and sitting at table were the flowers of the civil administration

when i set off from the tower from which one can see the sea
i was drunk and made do by staying in the zheng lu pavilion
now back in my old home the autumn moon shines on me with all its glory
while the great river yang zi flows on in its shivering cold

the constellation of the great bear has already turned
and the milky way is once more walked through at a right angle
the lonely phoenix wishes to fly away to the western sea
while the wild goose leaves the north sea on its long flight south

following the flight south i rise up in the air
to wave and salute you my good friends in nan ging

murphy always late to the big shindig

li bai xv-31

farewell to under-district judge wei

proceeding east i left the door of the blue dragon
in the south of the city i climbed the pavilion of the white deer
i wanted to visit the four old men of shang mountain
i withdrew from the world still thinking of the emperor’s grace

i am wandered deep into anhui, the land of the waters
and have been perusing the books on becoming an immortal
i have cleansed my heart in the moonlight on the gou river
my ears are attuned from listening to the cries of monkeys on jing ting mountain

i built a house in a populated area but locked the doors
in order to be free from the noises of the outside world
i greatly appreciate that you have come here to visit me
where we can engage in subtle philosophical colloquy

and when we are had enough of our discussions
we can always reach for our guitars and golden cups of wine

murphy living the life he has always dreamed of

li bai xv-32

in nan ling as i take leave of my children

when the year’s white wine was freshly pressed
i returned from the mountains back to nan ling
the yellow chick which pecked at my millet
is now the fat hen waiting to grace my autumn bowl

i call my boy so he can do my bidding
to fry up the chicken and bring the white wine
the children are full of joy and happiness holding tight to me
i sing a loud song and try to console myself by drinking

i begin to dance in the fading rays of the setting sun
an old man, i will take advantage of what i have left
i am wandering now toward the capital to speak with the emperor
but i wonder what i can offer in these my latter days

i will take the whip and mount the horse
the journey before me will be long and hard
the foolish woman zhu mai chen of gui ji
could think only of the welfare of her husband

i leave my house with the same feelings as zhu mai
now my way is to the west to the land of qin
looking up i laugh at the overarching sky
i step out of my door with wildness in my eyes

i content myself to always live as a poor man
taking what i can from an unforgiving jungle

murphy still willing to bet it all on one roll of the dice

li bai xv-33

i bid farewell to the mountain priest

from whence sprung the famous priest of the shui xi mountains
he enjoyed the moonlight with me last night on the jing xi river
early in the morning he left to go back up into the mountains
he carried his priest’s crook in his hand as he climbed the steep path

the higher he climbs, the more he must feel the three pure celestial spheres
as he looks back he will see the chain of ten thousand mountains
does he wish to stay here with the bitter jesting of zhi don
in education and appearance he reminds one of hui yuan

when will we meet again after this separation
all night i think of him while listening to screaming apes

murphy unable to escape the material world

li bai xv-34

i give this poem to the mountain hermit wang as he returns to the bu shan mountains

master wang knows how to analyze the teachings
with subtle dialectics he whittles the finest stalks
he returns to his retreat in the bu shan mountains
joyfully rushing to reach the heights of the sky clouds

i wonder why you should delay your return down here
surely the wonderful herbs you pick will only wither in your cell
yet even my heart thinks longingly of returning to the mountains
i repeatedly dream of the moonlight there resting on the pines

you go there alone now with your head held high
whistling a magical tune you open the stone gate
the wooded valleys have long been overgrown with weeds
even the paths have wild roses since you have been gone so long

i would especially like to play the flute there and dance with the cranes
and since i am getting old i might decide to come myself to live with you

murphy always leaving himself the promise of a bolt hole

li bai xv-35

at jiang sha i take leave of song zhi ti

the waters of the hu be have the clarity of the sky
far away it will join with the vast blue sea
we will also find ourselves far apart
the only thing to do is console ourselves with wine

the river monkeys scream into the evening wind
and i who all my life have only seldom wept
am weeping now with tears full as the river
tears that are as endless as the waters before me